Do African Americans Sympathize with the Gay Rights Movement?
Currently, only a handful of states will grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, with another smattering of states recognizing varying levels of rights, from civil unions to domestic partnerships. But as the fight for marriage equality gains momentum, with more Americans supporting same-sex marriage than opposing it and legislation pending in several states, some have drawn comparisons to the civil rights movement.
Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, an organization that fights to eradicate racism and discrimination in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, said she understands the comparisons, but it’s really not an apples-to-apples situation.